Wkat is your opinion: Defensive vs Offensive game

easoccer

Established Member
Aug 27, 2015
862
This past weekend our Striker was out with a hurt foot. He is very fast and, probably one of the fastest kids around, so usually we play with one striker and put more emphasis on defense.

We were not afforded that opportunity this weekend.

We started the first game by plugging some wingers in there to try and get some offense. We were able to manage a 1-0 win.

In the second game this did not work at all as we lost 1-0 this time. Especially since the kids were on a high from beating a very good team earlier. They did not respect the Silver 2 team and paid for it.

In the 3rd game, well, it was not pretty. I had to sit out for questioning the refs avalanche of cards against our team. The parents coached and we were blown out 7-0. It was so hard to watch from the stands with my mouth shut. Sometimes though, I think a game like this is needed for growth.

But here is where my question lies.

We also have two very strong and powerful defenders. Tall and fast. I put them as strikers together, and they played very well. Our defense still held up, but now we had a huge amount of offensive pressure. One of the defenders was able to put 4 in the back of the net.

My question is this, what do I do now? Take a risk and explore this more, using those 2 as strikers going forward? Maybe sacrificing a few goals against in favor of the possibility of more offense? I know the Striker we used previously has no love for being a defender, but these 2 played so well over the weekend together.

I have a lot to think about for next weekend.
 

CoastalGunner

Member
Sep 7, 2016
33
Sounds like the understanding and trust established between your CBs translated well up front.
My guess is they may be some of your best athletes as well.
Treat the situation as a bonus and as an option that not many other teams have.
In short, go back to your traditional formation, and with the knowledge that you can change it up when the need arises.
 

TKBC

Established Member
Aug 21, 2015
1,256
CoastalGunner may be right or wrong. But I'll say this - even though the kids are u16, don't pigeonhole them. Some of my best coaching decisions came out of necessity or fluke. If the kids were excellent at striker, play them at striker. Maybe your fast forward will actually be a better CM?

Rio Ferdinand was a striker until he was about 16 - look how he ended up.
 

easoccer

Established Member
Aug 27, 2015
862
I try to play them at their main positions (and a secondary in case of absences), but I am also ready at any moment to move players around to suit the opposition and/or the game.

I have parents say things like "why did you do this or that? The player is confused". It's very simple. Not all games are the same. In one game the other team may have a very fast winger or striker. Players may need to switch sides. Etc. We may need to play one striker or two. Our team has done well against the strongest in the group because we can adapt. Plus how can we say to a player that they must stay on the wing or on defense? If there is a moment in the game where we can advance the play, the players need to be able to overlap or run lateral plays where they move to a difference spot. They need freedom to be creative. BUT I expect them to track back to their positions when the ball is turned over.

The parents coached one game and it did not go well. LOL.

Anyway, I'm thinking I might move the Striker to CM and try the two boys at front again and see if their chemistry is a one off. If it works again I may run with it. If not, well, I can pretty much tell by halftime what changes I will make for the rest of the game.
 
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